Step 7: Head Strap

Step 8: Show it Off!

Here are some final pictures of the mask. Please share any pictures if you make your own! Especially if you decide to laser cut the pieces!

Octopodes are the coolest animals on this planet. It's a widely known fact. Thus, in an effort to become more like our octopus overlords, it is not out of the question to imitate their appearance of awesomeness. In this instructible I will show you how to look completely awesome with this mask. It works perfectly for a Halloween or masquerade mask.

This is the second mask like this that I have made. This time, I have decided to make it out of thicker materials and actually apply color! Additionally, I prepared it to be laser cut (but didn't follow through with this method). So for those who just want to print this off in acrylic, you could have a super-awesome mask in a night.

Step 1: Materials

The materials are simple:

cardboard (I will discuss types below)

X-acto blade (or laser cutter)

paper (to print the pattern to)

paint

elastic band (or more cardboard, discussed below)

small clamp

Cardboard selection:
Any cardboard will work, but it won't look very good unless you find a sheet without bends in it. So you at least want to find pieces of cardboard that are new-ish. Obviously, the stiffer stuff will work best. My personal favorite type of cardboard-esque material is old board game boards. Don't destroy a game just for one, but occasionally you can find old ones in the trash. I had an old risk board that I had been looking to re-purpose since the rest of the game was gone, this was a perfect use. Board game boards are thin, strong, stiff, coated, and dont bend or crease easily. Perfect candidates :)

Elastic band:
You need something to wrap around your cranium to keep this mask on. I like to use that soft elastic band or fabric that you can buy at any fabric / craft store. If you don't feel like buying anything, you can always just use a strip of cardboard fitted to your cranium-size.

Edit: instead of an elastic band, I used a piece of scrap cloth fabric and cut a ribbon of it out. This way I can affix part of it to the mask and then just tie off the rest behind my head.

I very rarely work with leather, so I don't know much about how to work it. But I have seen people make rigid forms out of leather. I have no idea how it is done. But it would look really cool if you did it in leather. Please share pics, and a process, if you do try it :)

As for the weight, it weighs very little in cardboard (can barely feel it). I wouldn't imagine the leather version would be too heavy... I don't think it would fall under its weight, nor do I think it would wear on your neck holding it up.

I very rarely work with leather, so I don't know much about how to work it. But I have seen people make rigid forms out of leather. I have no idea how it is done. But it would look really cool if you did it in leather. Please share pics, and a process, if you do try it :)